-
Largest Man in the World in 1903: Not Worth a Second Glance Now
As the Reddit hoard has pointed out, this dude, “Big Joe” was probably not actually the largest man in the world but rather just billed that way for a circus sideshow. Also, he may have been very tall, which changes perspective a bit.
BUT the point remains that people in 1903 PAID MONEY TO SEE a guy who looks… well, like guys everywhere in America now. Even, as pointed out above, a random cop. That is shocking on some level, and an important reminder that overweight people are not born with fat genes but rather living a fat lifestyle. And that they can change.
You’re not fat because of your genes—well, unless maybe you’re a true outlier like Big Joe—you’re fat because you eat too much and exercise too little.
-
